Best Doctors in India for Esophagectomy
- Liver Transplant Surgeon and HPB Surgeon, Chennai, India
- Over 15 years’ experience
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Selvakumar Naganathan is one of the best liver transplant surgeons in India with nearly 15 years of experience.
- He has carried out more than 2000 procedures, including 300 donor & 500 recipient hepatectomies, cadaver transplantations, retrieval of cadaver livers, and live donor liver transplants.
- He also established many liver transplantation centers across India & other countries.
- General Surgeon and Surgical Gastroenterologist, Chennai, India
- Over 27 years’ experience
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Raghunath K J is a well-known name in the field of general surgery with an experience of more than 27 years.
- He went under training in advanced Laparoscopic surgery from Canada and France.
- Dr. Raghunath pioneers many prestigious projects in the UK.
- Dr. Raghunath has a specialized interest in Gall Bladder Stone treatment, Hernia, GI Cancer Surgery, Laparoscopic Sleeve Resection, Endoscopic Surgery, etc.
- Colorectal Surgeon and Robotic Surgeon, Chennai, India
- Over 26 years’ experience
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Venkatesh Munikrishnan is one of the best Gastroenterologists and Colorectal Surgeons in Chennai, having 21 years of experience in managing disorders that need surgical treatment.
- Dr. Munikrishnan specializes in surgical oncology, endoscopy, Gastritis Treatment, etc.
- He is also active in research; one of his research on CT Colonography fetched a grant from Bracco, Milan, Italy.
- GI Surgeon and Liver Transplant Surgeon, Gurugram, India
- Over 20 years’ experience
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Amit Nath Rastogi is a pioneer in the field of liver transplant surgery. He completed his fellowship in liver transplant surgery at Sir Gangaram hospital while being a part of the largest liver transplant program in the country.
- Furthermore, he received his training in robotic liver surgery from IRCAD -Strasbourg, France, and advanced robotic HPB training from Grosseto.
- Liver Transplant Surgeon, Gurugram, India
- Over 10 years’ experience
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Prashant Vilas Bhangui is one of the highly trained liver transplant specialists who received his training in Surgical Gastroenterology and Liver Transplantation.
- He also holds a European Inter-University Diploma in Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Cancers.
- Dr. Prashant is further interested to work in certain fields which include hepatocellular carcinoma, colorectal liver metastases, and living donor liver transplantation. Besides this, he has also published several journals on these subjects.
- Gastroenterologist, Gurugram, India
- Over 7 years’ experience
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Abhinandan Mishra is one of the young Gastroenterology doctors in Gurugram who is particularly interested in inflammatory bowel disease treatment.
- Dr. Abhinandan Mishra offers Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography, Ascites tap, Endoscopy, Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy, Capsule Endoscopy, Esophageal Manometry, Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography, etc.
- Gastroenterologist, Gurugram, India
- Over 18 years’ experience
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Atul Sharma is a renowned Gastroenterology practitioner in Gurugram and is particularly interested in Third Space Endoscopy and Per Oral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM).
- He presented several papers on Manometry, Luminal gastroenterology, and interventional Gastroenterology during training in Advanced Interventional GI Endoscopy.
- Gastroenterologist, Gurugram, India
- Over 15 years’ experience
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Kapil Jamwal is a renowned GI practitioner in Gurugram with an extensive experience in digestive and liver disease.
- The specialist offers treatment for Hepatitis B, Jaundice, Hepatitis C, Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome, Acute Pancreatitis, Liver Diseases, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
- Gastroenterologist, Gurugram, India
- Over 18 years’ experience
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Rajesh Padhan is a renowned Gastroenterologist in Gurugram with an extensive experience of more than 18 years in the field.
- He is skilled in carrying out various endoscopy procedures such as Colonoscopy, Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic ultrasound, upper GI endoscopy, etc.
- Gastroenterologist, Hepatologist, Gurugram, India
- Over 25 years’ experience
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Sakshi Karkra is one of the best Pediatric gastroenterologists in Gurugram.
- She has special interest/ expertise in Colonoscopy, Upper GI Endoscopy, Capsule endoscopy, Enteroscopy, Endoscopic variceal ligation, Foreign body removal, Stricture & achalasia dilatation, Polypectomy, Anal manometry, Liver Biopsy, and Colonic manometry.
Best Hospitals in India for Esophagectomy
Esophagectomy
Esophagectomy is a surgery for removing part of the esophagus, a tube that connects the throat to your stomach. Its purpose is to move food that has been swallowed by your stomach.
The procedure can involve removing a part of the stomach as well. This procedure is generally used for esophagus cancer, and also for Barrett’s esophagus if there are any aggressive precancerous cells. This procedure might also be recommended when prior attempts to save the esophagus fails.
Purpose
The most common reason for esophagectomy is esophageal cancer. It can be performed to remove cancer or to relieve symptoms.
The extent of the procedure and how much of the esophagus is removed will be depending on multiple factors, which include disease size and location. Sometimes, the stomach or intestine is connected to a piece of the esophagus that is left in place at the time of the surgery.
Preparation
If you have any concerns you will need to discuss them with your doctor. If you are having cancer, your doctor might recommend radiation therapy or chemotherapy or both, before he/she recommends esophagectomy. If you smoke regularly, it is necessary to quit before the surgery, as well as after, as smoking increases your risk of complications after surgery.
Ask your doctor if you can continue to take your medications before your surgery. This is important especially if you are taking blood thinners, as they need to be stopped some days before your surgery.
It is also important for you to stop eating or drinking the night before your surgery. Sometimes you might be recommended a liquid diet around two to three days prior to your surgery.
Your treatment team can recommend you to bring several items to the hospital which can include your medications, personal care items, loose and comfortable clothing, etc. You can also bring items to help you relax, such as books or portable music players.
Before you are admitted to the hospital, it is important to talk to your family as well, regarding your stay and whether you will need any help after you return. You should receive specific instructions from your doctor or healthcare team that you will need to follow during the recovery period.
Procedure
The procedure involves removing some or most portions of your esophagus. Sometimes, if cancer is involved, the procedure can also involve a part of the top of the stomach as well as nearby lymph nodes.
Depending on your situation, your surgeon might choose any of these two techniques:
Open esophagectomy
In open esophagectomy, your surgeons will create one or more large incisions in your neck, chest or abdomen. Your surgeon can choose a transthoracic esophagectomy, in which your esophagus is going to be removed through the incisions in the abdomen and chest. Or the surgeon might also choose to perform a transhiatal esophagectomy, in which the incisions are performed in the abdomen and neck. Sometimes, a neck, chest and abdominal incision can be required, in this case it is called a three-field esophagectomy.
Minimally invasive esophagectomy
Minimally invasive esophagectomy involves removing the esophagus through several tiny incisions in the abdomen (laparoscopic) or the chest (thoracoscopic). If laparoscopic surgery is used, your surgeon inserts instruments with a camera-tipped device through the incisions. The device will help him/her view and perform the operation without dividing your muscles or causing damage to a rib. Sometimes this procedure can be robot-assisted.
Aftercare & recovery
Recovery from this procedure will generally depend on which method was used. Generally, a long hospital stay is required. A feeding tube is put into your belly, which can stay for a month or two. This tube is meant to give you nutrition and medication as needed as you recover.
You will receive instructions on how to care for your incisions before you leave the hospital. You will also receive certain medications for pain, infection, blood clots, etc.
Your provider should let you know for how long you should avoid lifting any kind of heavy objects. Rest as required and avoid any movements that can cause pain. Remember to hold a pillow over your surgical incisions before you cough or sneeze.
Avoid hot baths or swimming pools until your healthcare team says it is okay.
Your healthcare team might direct you to change your diet. You can ask them when it is safe for you to drive and resume your normal routine.
Inform your healthcare team if you experience:
- Fever
- Difficulty in breathing and/or a persistent cough
- Any new or worsening pain.
- Trouble eating or drinking, or if you experience nausea or vomiting after eating
- Yellowing of the skin or whites of your eyes.
- Diarrhea or loose bowel movements.
- Burning in the throat while you lay down or during sleep
Risks
Esophagectomy has a few risks of complications and some of them include:
- Cough
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Leakage from the surgical connection of your stomach and esophagus
- Changes in your voice
- Respiratory complications like pneumonia
- Acid or bile reflux
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
- Swallowing difficulties
- Atrial fibrillation
Although it is rare, in some cases, death is also a possibility.